Family Forum

The Family Forum at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC is a diverse group of individuals who partner with staff members and hospital leadership to help improve the experiences children and families have during their time at Children’s Hospital. Family Forum members are deeply involved in projects at Children’s that advance famiy-centered care. Organized into three major subcommittees, the Forum members serve on one of the following subcommittees:

• Family Resource Center Committee: This group organizes and holds regularly scheduled and special events to educate, entertain, and support families of patients at Children's.
• Communications Committee: This group has organized a family faculty comprised of family members who develop their personal experiences into educational presentations. These presentations help teach family -centered care principles through real life experiences of our patient families. 
• Parent Education Committee: The committee is involved in developing and providing information key to successfully negotiating the health care environment for their children. Projects include website development and parent to parent "tip sheets". 

Who can serve on the Family Forum?  

Parents, guardians and adult primary-caregivers of children who receive care at any of Children’s Hospital locations are eligible to serve on the Family Forum. Adults who received care for a long term or chronic condition as children at Children's also may apply.

The mission of Children’s Family Forum is to partner with hospital administration, faculty and staff to bring the voice and perspective of parents and families to the hospital experience. Members of the Family Forum work to promote the practice of family-centered care, advocating for children and their families to be full partners in their medical care, and to help with the hospital's on-going commitment to improve quality and patient safety at Children’s Hospital.

Family Forum members hold community member seats on hospital standing committees, including:

• Condition Help Steering Committee
• Ethics Committee
• Infectious Disease Committee
• Patient Safety Oversight Committee

Join the Family Forum

If you would like to join our Family Forum or refer a parent, please view our requirements and application process.